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Topic Summary

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 23rd, 2007, 8:25pm

Here is the first segment of the CN track photo set. This segment is from the E&N interchange switch as far as the barge slip lead. Standard view is looking north. Any change from this will be mentioned to avoid confusion. Enjoy,

Dave

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 23rd, 2007, 8:26pm

1

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 23rd, 2007, 8:27pm

2

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 23rd, 2007, 8:28pm

3

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 23rd, 2007, 8:30pm

4

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 23rd, 2007, 8:32pm

5

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 23rd, 2007, 8:34pm

6 Opposite direction

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 23rd, 2007, 8:35pm

7

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 23rd, 2007, 8:36pm

8 Opposite direction

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 23rd, 2007, 8:38pm

9

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 23rd, 2007, 8:39pm

10

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 23rd, 2007, 8:40pm

11 Opposite direction

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 23rd, 2007, 8:42pm

12 Opposite direction

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 23rd, 2007, 8:43pm

13

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 23rd, 2007, 8:45pm

14 Opposite direction

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 23rd, 2007, 8:47pm

15 Barge slip lead

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 23rd, 2007, 8:49pm

16

Posted by: Pyronova

Posted on: Oct 23rd, 2007, 8:49pm

Hey Goose! Nice shots!

Just to clarify, what year were all these pics?

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 23rd, 2007, 8:50pm

17

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 23rd, 2007, 8:54pm

1985

Posted by: vicguy

Posted on: Oct 23rd, 2007, 9:03pm

Oh my,......OH MY!!! Goose, a million thank yous! I can't believe how much was left still in 1985. You have taken all the photos I wish I had taken. Can't wait for the tour to continue!

Posted by: Coastrail

Posted on: Oct 23rd, 2007, 11:43pm

it is interesting to see that most of the CNR track arrangement stayed around right up to the mid 80s.

Dave do u happen to have any photos of the E&N yard as well?

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 24th, 2007, 6:11pm

Sorry Coast, I never did get around to doing a proper track set around the E&N yard area. I do have some pictures taken here and there over time that show track layout, removed switches etc. but not in the same style as the Store St. and CN track sets. The only other set I did was one at Youbou in 1985 from the end of track about a mile through town behind all the houses along the water.

Dave

Posted by: torch

Posted on: Oct 24th, 2007, 8:31pm

Aaron, there is definately enuff fotos on this board that showcase the e&n yard and honestly, it really hasnt changed very much at all over the last 50 years with the exception of the lower harbor spurs and union pacific connection/barge slip. Ive got some e&n yard fotos from around 89/ 90 that I will be uploading next week when I purchase my new printer/scanner.( goose inspired me for that!)

Posted by: craigolio

Posted on: Oct 24th, 2007, 8:40pm

It would be great if you could post the photos of Youbou as well, when you have chance.

Thanks, Craig

Posted by: craigolio

Posted on: Oct 24th, 2007, 8:45pm

It would be great if you could post the photos of Youbou as well, when you have chance.

Thanks, Craig

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 24th, 2007, 8:54pm

Hi Craig,

I'll do the Youbou set after the CN set before I start going through everything else.

Dave

Posted by: B_Winkler

Posted on: Oct 24th, 2007, 9:15pm

I was born and raised in Youbou. I remember the trains coming in and would love to see the pictures

Posted by: CN7059

Posted on: Oct 25th, 2007, 2:14am

Goose, i'm buying you a round.

Second round's on me!

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 25th, 2007, 8:51pm

Thanks guys, I'm just glad I'm able to share all of this. Here's the second segment of the set moving through the yard and over the trestle. Once again, the standard view is north and any differences will be noted. I'll continue the numbering sequence from the last segment.

Dave

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 25th, 2007, 8:52pm

18

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 25th, 2007, 8:53pm

19

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 25th, 2007, 8:54pm

20 Opposite direction

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 25th, 2007, 8:55pm

21

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 25th, 2007, 8:58pm

22 Switch leading to upper yard opposite direction

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 25th, 2007, 9:00pm

23 Upper yard

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 25th, 2007, 9:01pm

24 Upper yard

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 25th, 2007, 9:03pm

25

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 25th, 2007, 9:04pm

26 Opposite direction

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 25th, 2007, 9:06pm

27 Yard office

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 25th, 2007, 9:07pm

28 MOW shed

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 25th, 2007, 9:08pm

29 Handcar shed

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 25th, 2007, 9:10pm

30 Scale house

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 25th, 2007, 9:11pm

31

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 25th, 2007, 9:12pm

32 Opposite direction

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 25th, 2007, 9:12pm

33

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 25th, 2007, 9:13pm

34 Opposite direction

Posted by: CP8673

Posted on: Oct 25th, 2007, 9:18pm

Glad to see these pics - brings back memories. I was able to scrounge several rides with the CN yard crew but never had the sense to take photo's as "there's always tomorrow"

Posted by: vicguy

Posted on: Oct 25th, 2007, 11:41pm

CN had quite a bit of trackage and sidings between the Selkirk trestle and Johnson Street bridge! I wonder how many customers they served there at its peak? I was also wondering how often the CN/E&N interchange got used when CN had its own barge service, and what would have been interchanged? I like the fact that CN had an "upper yard!" I'm looking forward to the next set, cause I can see the BCFP mill ahead!

Thanks Goose!

Posted by: Coastrail

Posted on: Oct 26th, 2007, 12:20am

Nice pics. The CN yard was definitely bigger than the E&N yard. What year did Johnston Terminals stop using rail service? I think i was located a few blocks before the TCH crossing. Why did CN stop serving them? There are shots in 1977 showing long trains going across the selkirk trestle.

Posted by: CN7059

Posted on: Oct 26th, 2007, 2:43am

I was curious about the track arrangement in photo 32. I assume that it has something to do with the lift span, but it seemed odd to me, and I've never seen anything like it before.

Almost look like derails.

Derails on a bridge? How safe is that?

Posted by: George_Harris

Posted on: Oct 26th, 2007, 2:52pm

32 Opposite direction

What you are seeing here is a home made rail expansion joint. The objective is to make sure that longitudinal movement of the rail under the photographer does not result in any movement of the rail beyond these switch points. I would hope that this is a very slow speed track. If I were building this thing, I would have a guard rail, like you have opposite a frog adjacent to the other rail opposite the point end of each of these switch blades.

Definitely not a derail. There is nothing to open the switch point.

However, in quite a few locations there are derails in advance of drawbridges. The idea being that a train bouncing along the ties will stop before going off the end or running into the draw span. The inside guard rails as seen in the picture keep the train from going off the side of the bridge. It is the concept that a derailed car sitting on the ties is better than a car in the water.

George

Posted by: CP8673

Posted on: Oct 26th, 2007, 3:06pm

What you are seeing here is a home made rail expansion joint. The objective is to make sure that longitudinal movement of the rail under the photographer does not result in any movement of the rail beyond these switch points. I would hope that this is a very slow speed track. If I were building this thing, I would have a guard rail, like you have opposite a frog adjacent to the other rail opposite the point end of each of these switch blades.

Definitely not a derail. There is nothing to open the switch point.

However, in quite a few locations there are derails in advance of drawbridges. The idea being that a train bouncing along the ties will stop before going off the end or running into the draw span. The inside guard rails as seen in the picture keep the train from going off the side of the bridge. It is the concept that a derailed car sitting on the ties is better than a car in the water.

George

10 MPH

Posted by: Pyronova

Posted on: Oct 26th, 2007, 3:43pm

Definitely not a derail. There is nothing to open the switch point.

I can see a tab off of the point on both rails.

Quote:

However, in quite a few locations there are derails in advance of drawbridges. The idea being that a train bouncing along the ties will stop before going off the end or running into the draw span. The inside guard rails as seen in the picture keep the train from going off the side of the bridge. It is the concept that a derailed car sitting on the ties is better than a car in the water.

It looks like there is a set of these interesting 'points' in both directions on either side of the lift span. I wonder if lifting the bridge actuates the derail function if it exists. I can't find my Last Runs video right now, but isn't there a is a video of the guy hand cranking the span up; maybe it would show the points opening as well? ? ? ?

Posted by: CP8673

Posted on: Oct 26th, 2007, 4:16pm

I can remember examining the mechanism several times. There wasn't any connection to the points on either side (and in fact impossible with the BCFP side)

Also there is not mention of any derail feature in the employee timetable. As this was considered a main track (even though it was in yard limits) there would be mention of it if a derail feature existed. My money is on the expansion joint.

Posted by: George_Harris

Posted on: Oct 26th, 2007, 6:26pm

I can see a tab off of the point on both rails.

I saw this tab in the picture also and wondered about it. My best guess at this point is that it is a brace to be sure that the point does not move inward when the rail leading into it moves. Based on CP8673's post also, this appears to be correct.

I stll say these points need a guard rail opposite them. If not a derail, the center of the guard should be about opposite the point. This is only a concern for the facing move. You don't have to worry about guarding the trailing move.

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 26th, 2007, 9:33pm

Here's the next segment of the set from the end of the trestle up to just past the Johnston Terminals spur approaching the wye.

Dave

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 26th, 2007, 9:34pm

35

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 26th, 2007, 9:35pm

36 Opposite direction

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 26th, 2007, 9:36pm

37

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 26th, 2007, 9:37pm

38 Opposite direction

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 26th, 2007, 9:38pm

39

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 26th, 2007, 9:39pm

40

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 26th, 2007, 9:41pm

41

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 26th, 2007, 9:44pm

42

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 26th, 2007, 9:45pm

43

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 26th, 2007, 9:47pm

44

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 26th, 2007, 9:49pm

45

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 26th, 2007, 9:51pm

46

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 26th, 2007, 9:54pm

47 Opposite direction Alpha St. spur

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 26th, 2007, 9:56pm

48

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 26th, 2007, 9:58pm

49

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 26th, 2007, 9:59pm

50

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 26th, 2007, 10:01pm

51

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 26th, 2007, 10:03pm

52 Opposite direction Johnston Terminals spur

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 26th, 2007, 10:04pm

53

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 26th, 2007, 10:06pm

54

Posted by: Pyronova

Posted on: Oct 26th, 2007, 10:30pm

Great stuff, Goose5!

I had totally forgotten the VI CN style whistle planks err posts. Good to see some of them along the ROW.

Posted by: vicguy

Posted on: Oct 26th, 2007, 10:48pm

Thanks Goose!! Thats some rough looking track!

Posted by: torch

Posted on: Oct 27th, 2007, 10:36pm

thanks goose.. Hey does anybody here know what the alfa street spur was used for? in the early 80s I used to see BN boxcars there a lot.. Not sure if there was ever more than one spur there. In the foto You can see a truck trailer parked right on the spur which was sunken into the dirt and gravel. Maybe the winrock place across from it was the customer? anybody?

Posted by: Jason King

Posted on: Oct 27th, 2007, 11:51pm

I seem to remember at least once a flatcar spotted there with some steel on for some sort of fabrication, but my mind is fuzzy on this.

J\

Posted by: timberland#7

Posted on: Oct 28th, 2007, 3:32am

Its to bad the island corridor foundation didnt get this trackage as well. They would have only got one customer but a lot more potential sites.

Posted by: blackdog

Posted on: Oct 28th, 2007, 10:59am

Those are a GREAT set of pictures. That's how a railway should be recorded for posterity. That's already pretty much all that modellers or historians will have to refer to after the ROW is built over, converted into trails or whatever. I shall have a go at modelling those structures when I get time.

Posted by: Mark J

Posted on: Oct 28th, 2007, 11:26am

I was talking with a retired management type who spend considerable time on the island working for CN. I asked him if there was one specific reason for CN's demise on the island, this is what he told me, loosely quoted: The shakers act that was signed in the states in the early 80's enabled American railroads to charge whatever they wanted for freight rates on car loads destined to the mid west and eastern seaboard. This was the major blow to CN's operation on the island. Basically overnight CN lost well over half of its business on the island, mostly forest products that were now cheaper to load onto barges and then off loaded onto rail cars on the American coast. As soon as this came to be it was simply just a matter of time... Such a shame, a shame indeed.

Very cool pictures and thanks for sharing them.

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 28th, 2007, 3:08pm

Here's the next segment of the set showing the wye area.

Dave

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 28th, 2007, 3:09pm

55 South wye switch is the farthest one

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 28th, 2007, 3:10pm

56 Opposite direction

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 28th, 2007, 3:11pm

57 Left leg (former main line)

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 28th, 2007, 3:12pm

58

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 28th, 2007, 3:13pm

59

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 28th, 2007, 3:14pm

60 Right leg

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 28th, 2007, 3:15pm

61

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 28th, 2007, 3:16pm

62

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 28th, 2007, 3:17pm

63 Opposite direction

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 28th, 2007, 3:18pm

64 Back leg

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 28th, 2007, 3:19pm

65

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 28th, 2007, 3:20pm

66

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 28th, 2007, 3:21pm

67

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 28th, 2007, 3:22pm

68 Opposite direction

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 28th, 2007, 3:23pm

69 Tail (former main line)

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 28th, 2007, 3:25pm

70 Tail end of track The rails (yes they are in there somewhere) simply went into the dirt with no bumper

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 28th, 2007, 3:29pm

Here is a small set taken on May 12, 1986 showing a rare use of the wye to turn a replacement locomotive sent over on the barge facing in the wrong direction.

1

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 28th, 2007, 3:30pm

2

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 28th, 2007, 3:30pm

3

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 28th, 2007, 3:31pm

4

Posted by: vicguy

Posted on: Oct 28th, 2007, 3:48pm

Ok, that last set of the the GMD1 using the wye is my favorite pics on this site! I grew up a block away from there and from our house on Cadillac Avenue we could see the stretch of track from Harriet to Wascana (and the track crossing Hwy 1 from my roof!) . I remember the odd time looking out the window and seeing a train using the wye and coming up just past Harriet like in your pictures. Very cool, those pics bring back a lot of memories of that area as I used to walk that track with my Dad while taking our dog for walks! There used to be track actually reaching Tillicum Road maybe as late as mid 80s?

Posted by: torch

Posted on: Oct 28th, 2007, 6:02pm

nice! Hey goose.. around late 85 I saw a train using the wye.. a gmd-1 with one hopper car and a flatcar loaded with truck cab/chassis Im assuming that was for finning.. I dont know how they wouldve unloaded them with no end ramp spur.. maybe there was at one point. Does anybody know what the alfa street spur was used for? thanks.

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 30th, 2007, 8:24pm

Here's the last part of the set from just beyond the wye up to the end of track.

Dave

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 30th, 2007, 8:25pm

71

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 30th, 2007, 8:26pm

72

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 30th, 2007, 8:27pm

73

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 30th, 2007, 8:28pm

74

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 30th, 2007, 8:29pm

75

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 30th, 2007, 8:30pm

76

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 30th, 2007, 8:31pm

77

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 30th, 2007, 8:33pm

78

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 30th, 2007, 8:34pm

79 Swan Lake trestle

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 30th, 2007, 8:35pm

80 Opposite direction

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 30th, 2007, 8:36pm

81

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 30th, 2007, 8:37pm

82

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 30th, 2007, 8:38pm

83

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 30th, 2007, 8:39pm

84 Quadra Street

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 30th, 2007, 8:41pm

85 Opposite Direction Borden Mercantile spur

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 30th, 2007, 8:42pm

86

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Oct 30th, 2007, 8:43pm

87 End of track

Posted by: vicguy

Posted on: Oct 30th, 2007, 8:52pm

Goose, that was a great tour! I'm glad you were able to document the line for people like myself who thought the line would be around "forever." I'm looking forward to your other island photos! Thanks!

Posted by: vicguy

Posted on: Oct 30th, 2007, 9:03pm

thanks goose.. Hey does anybody here know what the alfa street spur was used for? in the early 80s I used to see BN boxcars there a lot.. Not sure if there was ever more than one spur there. In the foto You can see a truck trailer parked right on the spur which was sunken into the dirt and gravel. Maybe the winrock place across from it was the customer? anybody?

hey Torch, my cousin sent me an email (he's on the HMCS Calgary out at sea and unable to post on the forum) regarding your question about the Alpha Street spur. He used to have a CN/CP customer list from 1988 and he remembers that Winroc Gypsum and Pelagic Pacific Industries (plastics) were on there and both of their buildings were adjacent to that spur. Maybe 1 or both of them used that spur at times? Hopes this helps!

Posted by: torch

Posted on: Oct 30th, 2007, 10:42pm

thanks vicguy.. hey, if you guys go back to the foto of the alfa street spur turnout it looks like there was a right hand turnout there at one point because to the right of the track there are what looks like extended ties sticking out. When I used to see the boxcars sitting there it was always viewed from a road to the north of the site and it seemed to me at the time that the cars were sitting on a track to the north of the mainline.

Posted by: CPRail4744

Posted on: Nov 3rd, 2007, 2:41am

Thankyou again Goose5 for scanning and posting all the pictures.

Like everybody else, the memories are coming back big time. Especially the Borden mercantile spur and end of track. I remember the grain cars there, and watching the switcher cross Quadra street once when I was a small kid. I am presuming this whole ROW is now a trail? Much as I hate the rails to trails concept (of course I would rather still have rails that are being used by trains!) I think I will make a point of walking or riding the route next time I am on the Island.

Again, much appreciated!

Posted by: Piglet

Posted on: Nov 3rd, 2007, 11:13am

I am truely impressed with how through you are in your documentation of things Goose. You are a godsend to all of us who tresure the rails and their history. With being on dial up (you have to love living in the country)it does take a while to down load but I am more then happy to take the time for your wonderful photo studies. I look forward to each set as it takes me home and away from the snow (yes we have already had some here). Keep up the good work.

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Nov 10th, 2007, 6:59pm

Here's some photos taken on October 8, 1988 showing the removal of all the non-essential sidings and spurs. CN had discontinued the barge service on March 30, 1988 with all cars now routed through the E&N interchange.

Dave

1

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Nov 10th, 2007, 7:01pm

2

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Nov 10th, 2007, 7:02pm

3

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Nov 10th, 2007, 7:04pm

4

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Nov 10th, 2007, 7:05pm

5

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Nov 10th, 2007, 7:06pm

6

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Nov 10th, 2007, 7:09pm

7

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Nov 10th, 2007, 7:12pm

8

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Nov 10th, 2007, 7:16pm

9

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Nov 10th, 2007, 7:20pm

10

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Nov 10th, 2007, 7:24pm

11

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Nov 10th, 2007, 7:26pm

12

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Nov 10th, 2007, 7:28pm

13

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Nov 10th, 2007, 7:30pm

14

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Nov 10th, 2007, 7:32pm

15

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Nov 10th, 2007, 7:36pm

16

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Nov 10th, 2007, 7:39pm

17

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Nov 10th, 2007, 7:41pm

18

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Nov 10th, 2007, 7:44pm

19

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Nov 10th, 2007, 7:50pm

20

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Nov 10th, 2007, 7:52pm

21

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Nov 10th, 2007, 7:54pm

22

Posted by: vicguy

Posted on: Nov 10th, 2007, 8:13pm

I am continually amazed at how thorough you are with these pictures! Great pictures again, but also very sad to see. At first I was wondering what the bulkhead flats were for, but they must have been to haul all the rail away (am I right?). Goose, do you ever remember back in the late eighties, a depressed center flat car parked under the Carey Road overpass? It was black, and I believe it was a CN car. I checked it out with a friend one day while walking over to check out the latest GI Joes at Woolco and to this day, can't imagine what it was for.

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Nov 10th, 2007, 8:30pm

Hi Chris. No I can't say that I recall seeing the depressed center flatcar that you refer to although I do have a photo of a depressed center flat loaded with what looks like a transformer of some kind being switched into the Johnston Terminals spur. Haven't got around to scanning it yet though. As for the bulkhead flatcars, I think the BC Forest Products mill on Gorge Road was still shipping loads out on them at this time. The empties in the photos are probably ones that arrived via the E&N and were not yet needed.

Dave

Posted by: torch

Posted on: Nov 10th, 2007, 9:07pm

nice pics, goose.. sad tho. I once saw a gmd-1 switching out a flatcar load of truck cabs/chassis on the wye track by the trans canada hiway. do you recall any odd moves like that happening there? I wasnt sure where the loads were headed but there was a finning dealer and budget rental there so maybe one or the other.. dont know how they wouldve unloaded them as there was no stub spur or end ramp there that I know of. another odd thing is that it happened on a saturday. Mustve been around summer of 85 or so. Goose..also do you know who was served at the alfa street spur? going back throo your fotos it apears there may have been a second spur around alfa street too as there are extended ties to the right before the left trunout. thanks.---m

Posted by: vicguy

Posted on: Nov 11th, 2007, 6:22am

Dave, thats interesting, I didn't realize they shipped out lumber by bulkheads there, I always remember boxcars being at the mill. Also, VERY interesting about the flat car at Johnson Terminals. Maybe thats where the one I saw came from, but I don't know why they would have left it there and that also means that they would have gone around the wye so the engine could return to the yard. Hmmmm......

Torch: still trying to find out about that flatcar w/trucks, huh? I know this was discussed years ago, but I forgot if you said what colour the trucks were? If they were white, they must have been for Budget, Finning was pretty much all heavy equipment type stuff. Also like you said, how did they unload the flat? Maybe they borrowed a crane from Finning

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Nov 11th, 2007, 6:22pm

Chris, I have a few photos showing switching at the mill with the bulkhead flats as well as moving them around the yard. Haven't scanned them yet but will get to those sometime soon.

Torch, I don't remember seeing any unusual moves except the depressed center flatcar one that I have but no doubt there were a few out of the ordinary cars or spotting locations. As for the Alpha St. spur I think in later years it was used as sort of a team track where any car with a load for any business close by in the area would be spotted there. That's a guess though, I'm not definitely sure of it.

Dave

Posted by: torch

Posted on: Nov 11th, 2007, 7:39pm

Hey vic guy.. yup the trucks were white.. probably were for budget. anyhow it was a cool move to see being tht it was on a saturday and they were on the northwest leg of the wye.. they also had one hopper with them too. shoot ..I remember seeing hoppers spotted at the mac donalds bakery spur by the hi way there too. Goose, im sure youre right about the alfa street spur. Definately was a team track but I was curious as to what industrys it wouldve served. It was stated before that win roc was possibly one of them and that makes sense.

Posted by: Goose5

Posted on: Dec 3rd, 2016, 2:52pm

Just bumping this thread up as it relates to a current discussion on the CN pics thread.